Hibs pantomime villain Ryan Porteous could miss any post-split Scottish Premiership clash with Rangers after he was issued with a four-match ban.
The controversial centre-back was already looking at a three-match ban after the defender was sent off in Aberdeen’s 3-1 victory over Hibs last weekend.
Porteous’ reckless lunge all but cost Hibs the match as he took out ex-Rangers star Ross McCrorie in his own box with the now Dons star set to score.
The 22-year-old was sent packing and Lewis Ferguson dispatched the penalty to put the Dons 2-1 up after Ferguson had earlier equalised from the spot following Hibs going in front through a Calvin Ramsey own goal.
Vicente Besuijen rounded off the scoring for Aberdeen with ten minutes to go.
Hibs defender Ryan Porteous could miss post-split Rangers clash
Hibs boss Sean Maloney had argued in the post-match that Ryan Porteous shouldn’t have been sent off for the incident as he made a genuine attempt to play the ball, but this appears to have been laughed out of Hampden.
Because this was Porteous’ second red card of the season – despite him not being “that kind of player” – the defender was initially set to serve a three-match ban.
But for Hibs’ insolence the SFA have notched another game on the ban with Ryan Porteous now set to face a four-game ban due to the fact any right-thinking person could see the appeal had no chance.
This means that the Hibs star will miss the Easter Road club’s remaining two matches of the pre-split Premiership season against Dundee United and Hearts.
The defender will also miss another two matches post-split, which could include Rangers given that both sides are currently in the top half of the table.
However, these fixtures won’t be announced until the final two pre-split league games have been played.
Do we look happy about that? Well, yes and no.
Whilst it’ll be a rare laugh to see Ryan Porteous in the stands when Rangers come to town, the last time the Gers visited Easter Road it was the Hibs defender who gave away the match-winning penalty.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans are being left behind as infighting threatens to mar the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
